Area college baseball: Pankake hits walk-off shot for USC

Published: Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at 3:15 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 12:56 a.m.

In Columbia, Joey Pankake led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a walk-off homer to left-center to lift eighth-ranked South Carolina to a 6-5 win over The Citadel on Tuesday night.

Pankake’s homer was his sixth of the season. After The Citadel (17-17) rallied for three runs in the top of the ninth inning to tie the game, Pankake quickly responded as he launched a 1-0 pitch to left-center from right-hander David Rivera to set off the celebration.

Clemson 12, Western Carolina 9: In Cullowhee, N.C., Jon McGibbon’s run-scoring single in the ninth inning gave No. 17 Clemson the lead and the Tigers (22-11) added two more runs in the frame to defeat Western Carolina (19-16).

The Tigers scored nine combined runs in the first four innings to build a 9-3 lead, but the Catamounts rallied for six runs, four of which were unearned, in the seventh inning to tie the score.

Clemson responded with three clutch hits in the ninth inning to up its winning streak to six games, its longest winning streak since its eight-game streak in 2011.

Patrick Andrews (1-1) pitched 1 1/3 perfect innings in relief with two strikeouts to earn the win, then Scott Firth pitched a scoreless ninth inning with one strikeout to record his first save of the season. McGibbon went 3-for-4 with four RBIs, three runs, and a steal.

USC Upstate 8, Davidson 3: The Spartans (20-12) pounded out 10 hits and scored six two-out runs to knock off Davidson (9-22), winning their seventh game in their past eight.

Ben Augenstein (2-2) allowed one earned run on four hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out six. Trey Richardson paced the offense with his 12th multi-hit game of the season, recording three hits and driving in three.

Limestone 5, Lenoir-Rhyne 0: In Gaffney, junior right fielder Avi Ahlzadeh went 2-for-4 with a home run while junior left fielder Chad Balderman collected four hits and an RBI to lead the Saints (20-19) past Lenoir-Rhyne (18-27).

Sophomore reliever JM Spangler (2-0) picked up the win, allowing four hits and a pair of walks in 5 2/3 scoreless innings.

<p>In Columbia, Joey Pankake led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a walk-off homer to left-center to lift eighth-ranked South Carolina to a 6-5 win over The Citadel on Tuesday night. </p><p>Pankake's homer was his sixth of the season. After The Citadel (17-17) rallied for three runs in the top of the ninth inning to tie the game, Pankake quickly responded as he launched a 1-0 pitch to left-center from right-hander David Rivera to set off the celebration. </p><p>Right-hander Curt Britt (2-0) earned the win. </p><p>South Carolina (27-7) finished with 13 hits. Connor Bright went 3-for-4.</p><p><b>Clemson 12, Western Carolina 9: </b>In Cullowhee, N.C., Jon McGibbon's run-scoring single in the ninth inning gave No. 17 Clemson the lead and the Tigers (22-11) added two more runs in the frame to defeat Western Carolina (19-16). </p><p>The Tigers scored nine combined runs in the first four innings to build a 9-3 lead, but the Catamounts rallied for six runs, four of which were unearned, in the seventh inning to tie the score. </p><p>Clemson responded with three clutch hits in the ninth inning to up its winning streak to six games, its longest winning streak since its eight-game streak in 2011.</p><p>Patrick Andrews (1-1) pitched 1 1/3 perfect innings in relief with two strikeouts to earn the win, then Scott Firth pitched a scoreless ninth inning with one strikeout to record his first save of the season. McGibbon went 3-for-4 with four RBIs, three runs, and a steal. </p><p><b>USC Upstate 8, Davidson 3: </b>The Spartans (20-12) pounded out 10 hits and scored six two-out runs to knock off Davidson (9-22), winning their seventh game in their past eight.</p><p>Ben Augenstein (2-2) allowed one earned run on four hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out six. Trey Richardson paced the offense with his 12th multi-hit game of the season, recording three hits and driving in three. </p><p><b>Limestone 5, Lenoir-Rhyne 0:</b> In Gaffney, junior right fielder Avi Ahlzadeh went 2-for-4 with a home run while junior left fielder Chad Balderman collected four hits and an RBI to lead the Saints (20-19) past Lenoir-Rhyne (18-27). </p><p>Sophomore reliever JM Spangler (2-0) picked up the win, allowing four hits and a pair of walks in 5 2/3 scoreless innings.</p>